Inflation and price rise uncontrolled in Tamil Nadu: M.K. Stalin

In the five months since the TVK-led government assumed office, Tamil Nadu has been witnessing an uncontrolled rise in prices and inflation, DMK president M.K. Stalin said on Tuesday.

In a statement, he charged the government had failed to keep the prices of essential commodities under control. He also criticised Food Minister P. Venkataramanan’s claim that there had been no price rise. Mr Stalin described it as a blatant lie that had angered the people.

“The government should have taken measures when the Opposition parties warned of power cuts. But the Electricity Minister cited the situation in Punjab, while the Chief Minister flew to London. Now, the government is purchasing power in the open market at ₹35 a unit. It cancelled the agreements signed by the DMK government and is buying power at rates unheard of in other States. Is this the change they promised?” he asked.

Mr. Stalin alleged the ruling party was openly claiming it would buy 15 AIADMK MLAs [Revenue Minister K A Sengottaiyan had on Tuesday said in Erode that 15 AIADMK functionaries will soon join the TVK.]. “People are wondering whether the government is spending money on purchasing MLAs and has no money left to buy power,” he said.

Referring to the agricultural situation, Mr. Stalin said the Kuruvai crop had failed and the government, instead of listening to farmers, “had acted on an astrologer’s advice” and opened the Mettur dam on a wrong date. “Nothing happened except the erection of barricades at a cost of ₹5 crore during the Chief Minister’s visit to open the dam. Now, there is uncertainty over the Samba crop,” he said.

Mr Stalin felt the State was in the hands of a “stupid crowd” and claimed the Chief Minister, who was expected to guide the Cabinet, was more interested in visiting London and Vijayawada.

“We are worried about how the people of Tamil Nadu are going to face the crises in the coming months because of people who do not have even a basic understanding of administration,” he said.